How does packing a wound help it to close instead of keeping it open?

Question

It seems like if you pack a wound it would prevent the wound from closing and would keep it open.

In: 1

Answer 1

If you suture a wound closed, bacteria, fluid, blood can get trapped inside and have no way to get out. Packing a wound allows the wound to heal from the inside out and the packing material can soak up blood and fluids that would have otherwise been trapped under the skin.

Imagine how the body evolved to heal wounds. There were no sutures etc when animals evolved our healing mechanisms. We are meant to heal from the inside out. If it’s a very clean incision, it can be sutured, but many wounds are better left to heal “naturally.”